Twisting spindle balloon control



Dec. 13, 1955 A. w. VIBBER 2,726,56

TWISTING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTROL Filed Feb. 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Waugh FIG.4

Dec. 13, 1955 A. w. VIBBER 2,726,506

TWISTING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTROL Mir/115g IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 0 TWISTING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTROL Alfred W. Vibber, Ridgewood, N. J.

Application February 16, 1953, Serial No. 337,191

23 Claims. (Cl. 57-58.55)

This invention relates to an improved spindle of the type which creates and maintains a free-flying loop or balloon of elongated flexible material at such spindle, the flyer of the spindle incorporating means for detecting or measuring changes in the shape of the balloon and for controlling such loop or balloon therefrom, whereby the diameter of the loop or balloon is maintained within a predetermined desired range. The invention also relates to a system for continuously twisting and taking up elongated flexible material, such material proceeding from a source of supply into the spindle of the invention employed as a downtwister. In a preferred embodiment of the system of the invention there is employed apparatus which forms cord from a plurality of yarn supplies, preferably twisting spindles, while the material is continuously in motion, such system incorporating the improved spindle of the invention for doubling the separate strands fed thereto.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applications Serial Nos. 238,215, filed July 24, 1951, 278,800, now abandoned, filed March 27, 1952, and 317,406, filed October 29, 1952, all bearing the same title as the instant application.

In prior devices employing a plurality of singles twisters which deliver their strands to a gathering pulley where they are combined, from which they are then fed to a stranding spindle of the take-up, downtwister, type, it

has been proposed to control the diameter of the balloon at the take-up spindle by engaging the combined but as-yet-untwisted-upon-each-other strand-s above the eye of such spindle by a tension-sensitive means, such means controlling the relative speeds of feeding the combined strands into and out of the balloon, whereby to control the balloon size. Typical of such systems are those in which the tension-sensitive means controls the severity of application of a brake to the gathering pulley, the force with which the brake is applied varying inversely as the response, for example the deflection, of a tensionsensitive roll in the tension-sensitive means, since it has been found that as the balloon diameter increases the tension in the material above the eye of the downtwister decreases and vice versa.

Such method of control of the take-up twister balloon has not been altogether satisfactory, since the changes in the tension measured above the eye of such spindle over the range of permissible balloon diameters are small relative to the total tension of the material in the balloon and also relative to the tension measured above the eye of the downtwister. I have found that the tension measured above the eye of a downtwister is substantially smaller than the tension in the material in the balloon proper, because of the substantial sidewise force which the material in the balloon exerts upon the eye of the spindle. I have also found that in the balloon proper the tension increases with increase in balloon diameter, that the angle which the force exerted by the balloon on the outer end of the passage or guide in the flyer makes with respect to the vertical varies "ice markedly with changes of balloon diameter, and that both the vertical and horizontal components of the total tension in the material in the balloon bear determinable relationships to the balloon diameter within the permissible range of variation of such diameter.

The present invention incorporates in the flyer of the spindle a means responsive to changes in the balloon diameter, whereby the diameter may be sensed or measured and the balloon diameter controlled thereby. The invention, in one embodiment thereof, makes use of the changes in direction per se of the force exerted by the balloon on the flyer as a means of detecting or measuring changes in balloon shape and diameter. In other embodiments the component of the tension of the balloon proper in a fixed direction relative to the instantaneous position of the flyer is sensed or measured. The change indirection of force on the flyer applied by the balloon is so pronounced that in such latter embodiments it outweighs the effect, upon a directionally responsive tension-sensitive means in the flyer, of changes in the tension in the balloon proper upon a change of balloon diameter. In a further embodiment of the invention the change in the total tension in the balloon proper is employed both to sense or measure balloon diameter and to control it. All the above outlined modes of measurement of balloon diameter are more sensitive than that yielded by measurement of the tension in the material above the eye of the balloon.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a new and improved means for detecting or measuring the shape or diameter of the free-flying loop or balloon of elongated flexible material at a material handling device such as a twisting spindle.

The invention has as a further object the provision in such material handling device of a balloon shape or diameter detecting or measuring means which is mounted in the flyer of the device and which is directly acted upon by the material in the balloon proper.

A still further object of the invention, in certain embodiments thereof, lies in the provision, in the flyer of the above material handling device, of a mechanism directly acted upon by the balloon proper which is responsive to changes in direction of the force exerted by the balloon.

A further object of the invention, in other embodiments thereof, resides in the provision, in the flyer of the material handling device, of a means which senses 0r measures the component of the tension of the balloon proper in a fixed direction relative to the instantaneous position of the flyer.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision in the flyer of the material handling or twisting spindle of a mechanism for sensing or measuring the total tension in the balloon proper.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved apparatus for controlling the diameter of a free-flying loop or balloon at a spindle, and/or the length of elongated flexible material in such balloon.

The above and further objects of the invention will more readily be apparent upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic over-all view in side elevation of a three-spindle cord forming system, a spindle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention being employed as the center, take-up spindle of such system;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, generally in vertical axial section, through the flyer of the take-up spindle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram for the means for controlling the balloon of the take-up spindle of the system of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a force diagram analyzing the forces acting upon the balloon guiding eye at the outer end of the fiyer of the take-up spindle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, .generally in vertical axial section, through the fiyer of a second embodiment of the take-up spindle of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram for the mechanism for controlling the balloon of the take-up spin'dleshown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, generally in vertical axial section, through the fiyer of a third embodiment of the take-up spindle of the invention, the section bing taken along the line 77 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical transverse section through the fiyer of Fig. 7, the section being taken along the line 8--8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view, generally in vertical axial section, through the fiyer of a fourth embodiment of the take-up spindle of the invention, the balloon generating'eye lying substantially vertically above the axis of the fiyer arm on which it is mounted; and

Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation of the fiyer shown in Fig. 9, the view being taken from along line 10-10 in Fig. 9, the flyer arm being shown markedly angularly displaced about its longitudinal axis by the balloon from the position thereof shown in Fig. 9.

As will be evident from the above there are disclosed herein four embodiments of the spindle of the invention. The first of such embodiments, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is that in which a tension-sensitive means in the fiyer directly detects or measures the vertical component of the total force which the material in the balloon proper exerts on the balloon generating and guiding eye on the fiyer. The second of such embodiments is shown in Figs. 5 and 6; the tension-sensitive means in the fiyer of this embodiment directly detects or measures the total tension in the material in the balloon ipr'oper. Figs. 7 and 8 depict the third illustrative embodiment of the spindle of the invention, the tension-sensitive means in the fiyer of such spindle detecting or measuring the horizontal component of the total fo'rce'which the material in the balloon proper exerts on the guide in the fiyer. The fourth embodiment of the flyer, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, incorporates a tension-sensitive or responsive guiding eye in the flyer, such eye detecting or measuring the angle which the end of the balloon entering the guide on the ilyer makes with the vertical in a plane parallel to the spindle axis and normal to the path of the material along the fiyer.

In Fig. 1 there is diagrammatically shown a threespindle system wherein two strands such as rayon yarns are twisted, each in its own supply containing singles twister, and the strands are combined at a gathering pulley, being led therefrom into the balloon of a cabling and twisting take-up center spindle. The two singles spingles, which are of the two-for-one type in the illustrative embodiment, are designated 2 and 4, respectively, such spindles having back tension applying means 6 and 8. The material leaves each of the singles twisting spindles through the respective balloon guiding eyes 10 and 12, the strands 14 and 16 being gathered at the gathering pulley 18. The combined but as-yet-untwisted-upon-eachother strands leaving the gathering pulley are wrapped a sufficient number of times about the capstan 20 to have non-slipping relationship therewith, capstan 20 being driven in timed relation with the center take-up spindle through the medium of the pulley 22 thereon. Pulley 22 is connected by the belt 24 with the driven pulley 26 at the bottom of the center spindle, pulley 26 being driven by the worm 56 on such spindle. The combined strands proceed downwardly through the eye 27 into the balloon 28 of the take-up spindle 30, which is of the two-for-one downtwister type, such balloon being formed by the guiding eye 48 on the arm 44 of the fiyer 30, the plied strands being drawn inwardly of the flyer by the feeding means 54, from which it proceeds upwardly at 32 to be wound upon a bobbin by a traverse means conventional in the art, neither the bobbin nor traverse means being shown in Fig. l.

The center take-up spindle has a main vertical shaft 34 which is journalled in parts 36 and 38 of the machine frame. The lower end of shaft 34 is crowned at 40 to provide for engagement with a driving belt (not shown) whereby the center spindle is driven in synchronism with spindles 2 and 4. The fiyer 30 has a central portion 42 attached to shaft 34, the active arm 44 of the flyer projecting radially therefrom, there being an inactive, dummy, fiyer arm 46 disposed opposite arm 44 to maintain the fiyer in dynamic balance. The balloon generating eye 48 on fiyer arm 44 in the first described embodiment of the invention is responsive substantially solely to that component of the total force in the material of the balloon 28 which is parallel to the axis of the center spindle, means responsive to vertical movement of the eye 48 being provided to control the speed of take-up means 54 relative to the speed of the capstan 20. The means 54 and its manner of immediate control are the same as those shown in Fig. 8 of my prior application Serial No. 317,406.

Briefly, a capstan 31 substantially non-slippingly cugaging the inner end of run 29 of the material inwardly of eye 48 is journalled in the fiyer body 42 to rotate therewith, such capstan being riven by rotation of the fiyer 30 through engagement between a Worm gear having driving engagement with the gear 33 on capstan 31 and with a normally stationary worm on shaft 58 coaxial of the flyer. The worm is carried on the upper end of the shaft 58, such shaft protruding from the bottom of the main shaft 34 of the spindle. Afiixed to the bottom of shaft 58 is the worm gear 60, in mesh with which is the worm 62 driven by the motor 64 through the medium of the speed reducer 66. The worm 62 and worm gear 6:; are irreversible, that is, gear 60 will not turn unless the motor 64 is energized. Motor 64 is preferably the type energized by -a low potential direct current some the field (Fig. 3) being the stator and the rotor 192 being of the fixed high permeability magnet type made, for example, of Alnico. Such motor requires low current feed, thereby minimizing contact difiiculties at the reversing switch. Furthermore, because of the permanent magnet rotor, the problem of reversing the motor is a simple one. Because only a small amount of torque is necessary to rotate worm 62, the motor 64may be of the very small fractional horsepower type.

With the various parts of the apparatus of the center spindle of Fig. l properly proportioned for the operation in hand, the motor 64 and thus the shaft will remain at rest when the 133110011 28 is at the proper or medial diameter. Rotation of the motor 64 will either increase or decrease the speed of he flexible material past the capstan 31 of the feeding means 54, depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor '64. Motor 6 -5 'is under the control of the balloon generating-eye on the fiyer arm 4-4, as will be more-ciearly understood in connection with Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown in "Fig. 2, the flyerarm '44 is made up of a tube, the inner end'of which is screwed into the body 42 of the fiyer at 74. Extending longitudinally of the bore of the tube and substantially coaxial thereof is the switch arm 68 in the form of a leaf'spring, member 63 having a width '(in the direction into the paper of Fig. 2) which is several times its thickness (the vertical direction in Fig. 2). Member 68 is retained in the fiyer by having a coiled tank 70 thereof tightly received in a transverse bore 73 in the 'fiyer body, being retained therein by the pin 72 through the coiled tank'and'the flyer body. Member 68 is additionally retained in the fiyer by having the root of its straight portion tightly received in the radially extending slot 75 in the fiyer.

The eye 48 is carried on'anupstanding arm tab-attached to the outer end of the member '68. Arm 66 extends throu h a slot 69 in the 'upper wall of tube 44, so that the eye on the outerend of arm 68 may rise. and fall freely. Inwardly of member 66 the army 68 carries, insulated therefrom and from each other, a pair of double-ended contacts 76 and 78' positioned opposite and cooperating with the adjustable contacts 88 and 90, secured in an insulating support 84 in the upper wall of tube 44, and the adjustable contacts 92 and 94, secured in an insulating support 86 in the lower'wall of the tube 44.

The contacts on arm 68 and the upper and lower sets of contacts on the tube 44 constitute a switch S for starting, stopping, and reversing the motor 64. The arm 68 is given such initial downward bend or camber toward its outer end that when the eye 48 is subjected to only a small or no upward force the contacts 76 and 78 thereon contact the fixed contacts 92 and 94. When the eye 48 is subjected to the upward force of a balloon 28 having a diameter lying in the optimum diameter range the arm 68 is straightened so that contacts 76 and 78 lie intermediate between the upper and lower sets of contacts,'as shown in Fig. 2. When the eye 48 is subjected to an upward force substantially exceeding that exerted by such medial diameter balloon, its contacts 76 and 78 engage the upper fixed contacts 88 and 90.

The contacts 88 and 94 as one pair and 90 and 92 as the other pair are cross connected, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Lead wires 96 and 98, respectively, are brought from such pairs of connected contacts inwardly through the tube 44 into a passage in the body 42 of the flyer, such wires each being connected to one of the slip rings 52 shown mounted on the shaft 34 beneath the flyer. Similarly, a wire 80 leads from contact 76 to another one of the slip rings on the shaft 34 and a wire 82 leads from contact 78 to the remaining slip ring on the shaft 34.

As shown in Fig. 3, one wire L1 of the direct current source is connected to contact 76, the slip ring connection being omitted in such figure for the sake of simplicity. Similarly, the other lead L2 from the direct current source is connected to contact 78. When the reversing switch 50 is connected to the field 100 of the motor 64 as shown, the rotor 102 of the motor being of the fixed magnet type, the motor 64 will be rotated in one direction when contacts 76 and 78 touch contacts 92 and 94, respectively; the motor will rotate in the opposite direction when contacts 76 and 78 touch contacts 88 and 90, respectively, and the motor will remain at rest When the contacts 76 and 78 touch neither the upper nor lower contacts. In the first described embodiment of the flyer, the upward pull on eye 48 by balloon 28 decreases as the balloon increases in size, as will be understood from a discussion of Fig. 4, to follow. When contacts 76 and 78 engage the properly adjusted contacts 92 and 94, respectively, the balloon 28 will have expanded to the outer limit of its permissible range; when the contacts make such engagement the motor 64 runs in such direction as to increase the take-up speed of feeding means 54. When contacts 76 and 78 engage the properly adjusted contacts 88 and 90 the balloon will have contracted to the inner limit of its permissible range; the motor 64 then runs in such direction as to decrease the speed of feeding of the means 54. When the arm 68 occupies the mean intermediate position shown in Fig. 2, motor 64 is at rest and feeding means 54 has its normal speed inherently given it by its drive from the flyer.

The operation of the balloon controlling means of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 will become clear upon a consideration of the force diagram of Fig. 4. In such diagram there are analyzed the components of the total force acting upon the balloon generating eye 48 at the end of the flyer, the arm 44 thereof instantaneously travelling in the direction into the paper in Fig. 4 and its axis of rotation being vertical. The total tension in the balloon 28 and its instantaneous direction in space immediately radially outwardly of the eye 48 are represented graphicallyby the vector F. The direction in'space parallel with the axis of the spindle is represented by the of the eye 48 being represented by the lineOZ. The diagram in Fig. 4 represents a space force diagram, the

lengths of the lines OX, CY, and OZ, representing graphi cally the value and direction of each of the components Fx, Fy, and Fz of the total force F.

As is well known:

Fx=F cos A Fy=F sin A sin B Fz=F sin A cos B A being the angle between the line OF and the line OX, and B being the angle between the plane OXFD containing the vector F and the horizontal plane OXCZ.

As the balloon 28 expands the total tension in the material in the balloon proper, that is, the force F, increases due to (l) the added centrifugal force, such force depending directly on the weight of the material in the balloon, and (2) the added wind resistance caused by the increased length of material in the balloon. As the diameter of the balloon increases, however, both the angles A and B decrease, angle A decreasing because of the increased diameter of the balloon and the angle B decreasing because of the increasing degree of wrap-around of the balloon at the spindle. Wrap-around may be defined as the angle which the vertical plane through the axis of the spindle and run or extent 29 of the material along y the fiyer makes with the vertical plane through the axis of the spindle and containing the material immediately beneath eye 26 of the spindle.

As we have seen, above,

Fy=F sin A sin B Although F increases with increase in balloon diameter it is multiplied by two factors which decrease with increase in balloon diameter. Since this change in the value of Fy with change in balloon diameter is quite marked and the total value of Fy is significantly large, the upward pull upon eye 48 may be utilized, as in the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, as a means of detecting or measuring changes in shape of the balloon and of controlling the relative speeds of feeding the material into and out of the balloon thereby to maintain the balloon diameter Within predetermined limits, as above set forth.

In operating the center, take-up spindle the relative speeds of feeding means 20 and 54 are preferably so controlled as to maintain the diameter of balloon 28 Within the optimum range in which angle A varies from ap proximately to 30, and angle B varies from approximately to 45 or, alternatively as to such range of angle B, a range of balloon diameter wherein the Wraparound varies from 0 to approximately 90. It will be understood that such values of angles A and B and of the wrap-around may vary appreciably within the teaching of the invention. The speed with which motor 64 operates in response to the switch 50, and thus the rate of change of the speed of feeding material by capstan 31 may be adjusted by rheostat 104 in the motor circuit as shown in Fig. 3

As above explained Figs. 5 and 6 depict an alternative embodiment of the fiyer of the invention, such embodiment detecting or measuring, and being responsive .to, the entire tensional force in the material in the balloon. Parts in Figs. 5 and 6 which are the same as those in Figs. 1-4, inclusive, are designated by the same reference characters with an added prime. The active flyer arm 44' has a thickened portion 106 at the bottom thereof as it is there shown so that such arm, which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, seeks the position shown in Fig. 5 when the flyer is at rest or when the eye 48 is subjected to a force lying wholly in a vertical plane through the axis of the spindle. A flange 108 is provided on the inner end of the tube 44', such flange fitting within the cavity 110 in the main body 42' of the flyer. The arm 44' is rotatably carried in cavity 110 through the medium of the first, thrust bearing 1-12 and the second, radial bearing 114, the bearings being retained in cavity 110 by the retaining annular member 116 surrounding the inner end of tube 44'. Retaining member 116 is locked in place by thescrew type key 115, as shown.

A wide radial passage 119 is provided in body 42', such passage being substantially aligned with the eye 48' when the latter is in the vertical position shown in Fig. 5. A vertically disposed generally concave guide roller 117 is positioned on the side of body 42' nearer the reader in Fig. 5 so as to guide the material 28' from eye 48 into the passage 119 substantially without scuffing thereof regardless of the position of the eye. The switch arm 68' in this instance is secured to the inner end of the tube 44' so as to rotate therewith. The slot 65 in the upper wall of tube 44' receiving the arm '66 of the eye is of such configuration to allow the arm 66' to travel freely vertically with respect thereto but to cause the tube 44' to turn with the arm 48'. Because the switch arm 68 is disposed with its smaller dimension, the thickness, normal to the arm 66 of the eye, the outer end of the switch arm 68' will be deflected from its lower terminus of travel in varying degrees depending upon the pull on eye 48' in the direction of the length of arm 66.

Under running conditions, with the diameter of the balloon 28' lying within its optimum range, some degree of wrap-around of the material 28' will exist at the spindle and the angles A and B will both be somewhat less than 90 and will preferably lie within the above indicated ranges thereof. Accordingly the tube 44 will tip so as substantially to align the arm 66 carrying the eye 48 with the end of the material 28 entering the eye from the balloon, in the same manner as depicted in Fig. 10, which shows the fourth embodiment of the spindle, to be described. The pull upon the eye 48' and thus upon the switch arm 68 will accordingly be in a direction along that of the force F (Fig. 4), or in other words, the defiection of the switch amt 68' will be a measure of the total tensional force upon the material 28' in the balloon proper.

The wiring diagram for the fiyer of Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 6. Such diagram is essentially the same as that shown in Fig. 3. A reversal of the connections between the wires from the reversing switch 50' to the field 100 of the motor 64' must be made, however. In the fiyer of Fig. 5 deflection of the arm 63' in an upward direction increases with increase in balloon size and decreases with decrease in balloon size since the value of F varies directly in accordance with balloon diameter, as above explained. Since such value F varies appreciably and since the tension-sensitive means of the flyer is in direct communication with the balloon without the interposition of frictional guiding surfaces such as in the case of tension measurements taken above the balloon guiding eye, or passages in the fiyer, as in prior constructions, the reversing switch 50' in the fiyer of Fig. 5 affords a sensitive means for determining the total tension in the balloon proper, for detecting or measuring the shape or diameter of the balloon, and for controlling the relative speeds of feeding the material into and out of the balloon to control the balloon to maintain it within predetermined diameter sizes.

The embodiment of the fiyer shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is such that the tension-sensitive means therein is responsive substantially solely to the component of the total force on the material in the balloon which lies opposite the instantaneous direction of travel of the eye. In such figures parts which are the same as those in Figs. 1-3, inclusive, are designated by the same reference characters. In this embodiment the switch arm 120 is disposed vertical, that is, its width, which is several times greater than its thickness, lies in a vertical plane. Switch arm 120 carries thereon in spaced electrically insulating mounting means the contacts 122 and 124 which cooperate as before with pairs of spaced contacts mounted on opposite sides of the tube 44 in insulatingblocks 132 and 134. One such pair of opposed contacts, 136 and 138, is shown in Fig. 8. Lead wires 140 and 142 extend into the fiyer body from the contacts 122 and 124, respectively. Wires, not shown, extend inwardly of the tube 44 from the opposed contacts on the walls thereof into the body of the fiyer, all such wires leading to slip rings similar to slip rings 52 as shown in Fig. 1 whereby the circuits to the contacts may be completed from outside the balloon of the spindle.

The leaf spring switch arm 120, which is rigidly held at its root by pin 130 extending through coiled tang 126 and which tightly fits slot in the root of tube 44, is given such initial camber toward the right in Fig. 8 and in the direction into the paper in Fig. 7 that when the fiyer is at rest or when the balloon lies in a substantially vertical plane the contacts 122 and 124 on the arm will engage the contacts, of which contact 138 is one, at the right in Fig. 8. When this occurs, the control circuit, similar to that in Fig. 6, with which the means of Figs. 7 and 8 is connected will operate to cause motor 64 to rotate in such direction as to take up material from balloon 28 at a slower rate. Thereupon the balloon diameter will increase, the balloon will have an increased wrap-around, and the resulting increase in the value of Fz will pull the switch arm away from the right-hand contacts, thereby stopping the motor 64. The motor will remain non-rotating until the balloon has increased in diameter to such extent that the force F2 is sufficient to pull the arm 120 over to the left, as it is shown in Fig. 8, so that the contacts 122 and 124 engage the contacts at the left, of which contact 136 is one. Thereupon motor 64 will rotate in the reverse direction so as to increase the speed of take-up of the material, thereby to pull in the material at a faster rate from the balloon to decrease the balloon diameter. Such rotation of the motor continues until the balloon has decreased sufficiently in size to allow the switch arm 120 to occupy a position intermediate the two sets of opposed contacts. The balloon 28 is therefore maintained within a predetermined balloon diameter range, such range being determined by the initial setting of the opposed adjustable contacts on the fiyer arm whereby the range of swing of the switch arm 120 between them to effect reversal of the motor is varied.

As is evident from Fig. 4 and from the above discussion, the value of F2 increases as the balloon increases in diameter. Angle B decreases with the degree of wrap-around. Wrap-around increases with the increase in balloon diameter, as does also the value of F. The values of F and cos B increase under such conditions faster than the angle A and the value of sin A decreases, so that variationsin the value of F2 in the operative range of the balloon afiord a very satisfactory means whereby to detect or measure variations in the size and shape of the balloon and to control the same.

in the fourth embodiment of the fiyer of the spindle of the invention, shown in Figs. 9 and l0, there is provided a means which is responsive to the change in angle which the material in balloon 28 approaching eye 48' makes with respect to the vertical in the plane parallel to the axis of the spindle, containing the eye 48, and lying normal to the arm 44' of the fiyer. In other words the construction of the fiyer is such that the arm 66 bearing the eye 48 substantially aligns itself with the entering end of the balloon in a plane transverse to the fiyer arm, as shown in Fig. 10. Such angle of tipping of the rotatable fiyer arm, which in most respects is the same as that shown in Fig. 5 and has corresponding parts similarly designated, detects or measures changes in shape and size of the balloon and may be employed to control such balloon.

Nearthe base of the arm 44", which has a thickened portion 106 at the bottom thereof to hold it in the upright position shown in Fig. 9 when the flyer is at rest, there are provided the opposed, radially projecting, switch arms 144 and 146. Such arms carry, respectively, contacts 143 and 150 which are mounted on insulating supports and which are connected by wires, not shown, to slip rings on shaft 34', such rings being similar to rings 52 on the main shaft 34 of the spindle in Fig. 1. .Cooperating with contacts 148 and 150, respectively, are the two sets of opposed contacts 156, 158 and 164, 166, mounted on supports 152, 154, 160, and162, respectively, projecting from the outer face of the retaining annular member 116. Such last named contacts are likewise connected, by wires not shown, to slip rings on the shaft 34' of the flyer, opposite pairs 156, 158 and 164, 166 of such contacts being cross connected to make such device form a motor starting, stopping, and reversing switch similar to that shown in Fig. 6.

The contacts 156, 158, 164, and 166 on the flyer are adjustable. With the contacts adjusted as shown when the flyer arm 44 is substantially vertical, as when the flyer is at rest, contact 148 engages contact 156 andcontact 159 engages contact 158. When the twisting mechanism is started and whenthe motor 64 is energized the arm 66' will pull away in a counterclockwise direction as it is shown in Fig. 10 to, say, the intermediate position there shown, which is attendant upon a balloon within the permissible range of balloon size and shape. Under such conditions the motor 64 will be at rest and the speed of take-up of material from the balloon will be at the normal inherent speed of the means 54'.

If, however, the balloon 28 should increase in diameter unduly, the Wrap-around of such balloon will cause the arm 44' and the arm 66' to rotate sulficiently further counterclockwise to make contacts 148 and 150 engage contacts 164 and 166, respectively. When this occurs the control circuit, similar to that in Fig. 6, will start motor 64 in such direction as to increase the speed of take-up of material from the balloon. Thereupon the balloon will decrease in size to bring the arm 66' back into an intermediate position such as shown in Fig. 10. Should, however, during operation of the mechanism the balloon 28' decrease in size unduly so that the arm 66' lies suificiently close to the vertical to cause contacts 148 and 150 to engage contacts 156 and 158, respectively, the motor 64' will be energized to rotate in the reverse direction, thereby to decrease the speed of take-up of the material from the balloon.

Although for purposes of illustration I have shown various embodiments of the means for detecting or measuring changes in balloon size and shape and also of controlling the size and shape of the balloon thereby, it is to be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only and that the invention is to be defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim as new the following:

1. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating theflyer, a first material positioningmeans engaging the material beyond one end of the loop to determine the position of the material longitudinally of itself at such first location, a second material positioning means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop to determine the position of the material longitudinally of itself at such second location, and means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting changes in the shape of the loop.

2. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating an maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other 10 end of the loop and feeding the material in'the same direction relative thereto as the first feeding means, and means on the' flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting changes in the shape of the loop. 3. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material positioning means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop to determine the position of the material longitudinally of itself at such first location, a second material positioning means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop to determine the position of the material longitudinally of itself at such second location, and tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting changes in the shape of the loop.

4. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop and feeding the material in the same direction relative to the loop as the first feeding means, and tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting the total tension in the material in the loop.

5. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maiantaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop and feeding the material in the same direction relative to the loop as the first feeding means, guide means on the flyer adjacent the outer end thereof for engaging the material as it passes along the flyer, and means mounting the guide means for movement as a whole in an are about an axis radial of the flyer whereby the guide means may align itself with the end of the loop passing therethrough.

6. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one'end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop and feeding the material in the same direction relative to the loop as the first feeding means, and tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong, said tension-sensitive means being so constructed and arranged as to be responsive substantially solely to a component of the total tensional force in the material in the loop, said component extending generally at a right angle to the radial path of the material along the flyer.

7. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for. creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop and feeding the material in the same direction relative to the loop as the first feeding means, and tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong, said tension-sensitive means being so constructed and arranged as to be responsive substantially solely to that component of the total tensional force in the material in the loop which lies parallel to the axis of the loop.

8. Apparatus for-handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a free flying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a .first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop and feeding the material in the same direction relative to the loop as the first feeding means, and tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong, said tension-sensitive means being so constructed and arranged as to be responsive substantially solely to that component of the total tension on the material in the loop lying in the direction opposite the instantaneous direction of travel of the outer end of the flyer.

9. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material feeding means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop, a second material feeding means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop and feeding the material in the same direction relative to the loop as the first material feeding means, and means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting the angle which the material in the balloon makes with the end of the flyer as it passes therealong, said last named means comprising a material engaging guide adjacent the periphery of the flyer, an arm mounting the guide, and means mounting the arm for oscillation on the flyer in a plane parallel to the axis of the flyer and generally normal to a radius of the flyer.

10. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first material positioning means engaging the material beyond one end of the loop to determine the position of the material longitudinally of itself at such first location, a second material positioning means engaging the material beyond the other end of the loop to determine the position of the material longitudinally of itself at such second location, means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting changes in the shape of the loop, and means responsive to said last named means for varying the longitudinal positioning of the material at at least one of said two material positioning means to maintain the diameter of the loop within predetermined limits.

11. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying rotating loop of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the loop, a second means for feeding the material from the loop, means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong for detecting changes in the shape of the loop, and means responsive to the last named means for varying the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means to maintain the diameter of the loop within predetermined limits.

12. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material, said apparatus having a flyer creating and maintaining a free-flying loop of the material, said loop rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the loop, a second means for feeding the material from the loop, a loop generating guide adjacent the periphery of the flyer engaging the material immediately adjacent the loop, said guide being movable substantially solely in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the loop, means urging the guide toward a terminus of its travel against the pull of the loop, and means responsive to substantial predetermined displacement of the guide in either direction from a postion intermediate its termini to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means to maintain the diameter of the loop Within predetermined limits.

13. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material, said spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining a free-flying balloon of the material, said balloon rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the balloon, a second means for feeding the material from the balloon, a tension-responsive balloon generating guide on the flyer adjacent the periphery thereof, said guide forming the terminus of the balloon, said guide being movable with respect to the flyer substantially solely in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the balloon, resilient means urging the guide toward one of its terminal positions of travel relative to the flyer against the pull of the balloon, and means responsive to substantial predetermined displacement of the guide relative to the flyer in either direction from a position intermediate its termini to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

14. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material, said spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining a free-flying baloon of the material, said balloon rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the balloon, a second means for feeding the material from the balloon, balloon shape controlling guide means on the flyer adjacent the outer end thereof for engaging the material as it passes along the flyer, means mounting the guide means for movement as a whole in an arc about an axis radial of the flyer whereby the guide means may align itself with the end of the loop passing therethrough, and means responsive to the balloon shape controlling guide means to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

15. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material, said spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining a free-flying balloon of the material, said balloon rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the balloon, a second means for feeding the material from the balloon, a material engaging guide mounted on the flyer adjacent the periphery thereof, an arm mounting the guide, means mounting the arm for oscillation on the flyer in a plane parallel to the axis of the flyer and generally normal to a radius of the flyer, and means responsive to predetermined angular displacement of the guide mounting arm on the flyer to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

16. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material, said spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining a free-flying balloon of the material, said balloon rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the balloon, a second means for feeding the material from the balloon, tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong, said tension-sensitive means being so constructed and arranged as to be responsive substantially solely to a component of the total tensional force in the material in the loop, said component extending generally at a right angle to the radial path of the material along the flyer, and means responsive to the tension-sensitive means to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

17. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material, said spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining a free-flying balloon of the material, said balloon rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the balloon, a second means for feeding the material from the balloon, tension-sensitive means on the flyer engaging the material as it passes therealong, said tension-sensitive means being so constructed and arranged as to be responsive substantially solely to that component of the total tensional force in the material in the loop which lies parallel to the axis of the loop, and means responsive to substantial predetermined displacement of the tension-sensitive means to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

18. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material,

said spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining a freeflying balloon of the material, said balloon rotating about the axis of the flyer, a first means for feeding the material into the balloon, a second means for feeding the material from the balloon, a tension-responsive balloon generating guide on the flyer adjacent the periphery thereof, said guide forming the terminus of the balloon, said guide being movable with respect to the flyer substantially solely in a direction opposite the instantaneous direction of travel of the outer end of the flyer at which the guide is located, resilient means urging the guide toward one of its terminal positions of travel relative to the flyer against the pull of the balloon, and means responsive to substantial predetermined displacement of the guide relative to the flyer in either direction from a position intermediate itstermini to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

19. A strand-forming machine comprising a plurality of singles twisters, means for doubling the strands issuing from the singles twisters to a plied strand, said doubling means effecting a twisting operating in a free-flying balloon, a flyer creating and maintaining said balloon, a first means for feeding the combined strands into the balloon, a second means for feeding the plied strands from the balloon, means on the flyer engaging the plied strands as they pass therealong for detecting changes in the shape of the balloon, and means responsive to the last named means to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

20. A strand-forming machine comprising a plurality of singles twisters, means for doubling the strands issuing from the singles twisters into a plied strand, said doubling means effecting a twisting operation in a free-flying balloon, said doubling means having a flyer creating and maintaining said balloon, a first means for feeding the combined strands into the balloon, a second means for feeding the plied strand from the balloon, a balloon generating strand engaging guide mounted on the flyer adjacent the periphery thereof, an arm mounting the guide,

means mounting the arm for oscillation on the flyer in the plane parallel to the axis of the flyer and generally normal to a radius of the flyer, and means responsive to predetermined angular displacement of the guide mounting arm on the flyer to vary the relative speeds of the first and second feeding means thereby to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

21. A spindle of the infeeding type for handling elongated flexible material, said spindle comprising a rotatable hollow shaft for creating and maintaining a free-flying rotating loop of elongated flexible material, a variable speed feeding means controlling the length of material in the loop, means on the shaft engaging the loop for detecting changes in the shape of the loop, and means responsive to the loop-shape-detecting means to vary the speed of the variable speed feeding means to maintain the diameter of the loop within predetermined limits.

22. A spindle of the infeeding type for handling elongated flexible material, said spindle comprising a rotatable hollow shaft for creating and maintaining a free-flying rotating loop of elongated flexible material, a variable speed-feeding means controlling the length of material in the loop, loop-generating guide means on the shaft for engaging the terminal end of the free-flying loop, means mounting the guide means for movement with respect to the shaft by the free-flying loop passing therethrough, and means operative in response to movement of the guide means relative to the shaft to adjust the variable speed-feeding means to maintain the diameter of the loop within predetermined limits.

23. A spindle of the infeeding type for handling elongated flexible material, said spindle comprising a rotatable hollow shaft for creating and maintaining a free-flying rotating loop of material, a variable speed feeding means controlling the length of material in the loop, an oscillatory first arm mounted on the shaft generally radially thereof, a second arm extending generally at right angles to the first arm and connected to the outer end of the first arm for oscillation therewith, a loop-generating strand-engaging guide on the free end of the second arm, means mounting the first arm for oscillation on the shaft, and means responsive to angular displacement of the guide-mounting arm relative to the shaft to adjust the variable speed feeding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,921 Kent Aug. 23, 1938 2,550,136 Clarkson Apr. 24, 1951 2,597,015 May May 20, 1952 

